Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Someone once said, no one in Sydney ever wastes time debating the meaning of life.This time to travel to Sydney, you can be very lucky encounter major festivals in Sydney, that is Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, which was held in March 27-April on the 27th this time. Lasted the whole month. Sydney’s magnificent building, arty atmosphere and wonderful performance never let you down.

The people around the world and our Australia’s local peoples view the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as the symbols of Australia.Handa Sydney Opera is located in a small peninsula surrounded by the sea, in the state capital of New South Wales, close to the world famous Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Opera and Harbour Bridge building are our most proud of. The Harbour Bridge is the world’s most grand single hole arch bridge.Sydney Bridge entire body length 1149 meters, from the sea to the deck height 58.5 meters, from the sea to the top of the bridge up to 134 meters, ton ships can pass under the bridge. 49 meter wide would make a variety of automotive passable, both sides of the sidewalk width of 3 meters.

Handa Opera on SydneyHarbour is not just opera, but the enetrtainment continued under the summer sky all night. Water taxi are always available, just enjoy the elegant wine dinner at a temporary bar and restaurant, and then sat on the stepped seat to appreciate the Opera.

2015 ICC Cricket World Cup (一)

The ICC cricket World Cup is a flagship event in the international cricket’s schedule, and one of the largest international sport tournaments in the world. This tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2015, which is scheduled to start on Feb. 14 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Then, on March 29, it will return to the city for the finals. In totally, there are 49 games at this tournament, and 26 games of which will be held in Australia. The host cities includes: Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and Perth.

At this moment, when your favorite team is competed with the best players in the world, you should remember, do not miss the chance to cheer for them.

 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup just around the corner （二）

The 50 days countdown ceremony of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup has been  holding in Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 26, 2015.

The Cricket World Cup matches will be held in the 14 cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Scotland, Sri Lanka, the united Arab emirates Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh, and so on. 14 teams in totally.

The first match will begin by England to theirs old rival- Australia in the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Feb 14, 2015. And on March 29, it will return to the city for the finals.

“It can be expected that millions of viewers around the world will come to watch the event. And there are more than 3000 volunteers will service for the event. At present, more than 500 thousand pieces of tickets has sold. And it is expected that more than 1 billion of audience will watch it on TV.” John Bolton- the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup chief executive said.

Australia Eight Hour Day also called the Labour Day, May Day. The Eight Hour Day public holiday is fixed by the various state and territory governments of Australia, and so varies considerably. It is the first Monday in October and called Labour Day in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia and, since 2013, Queensland. In both Victoria and Tasmania, it is the second Monday in March and called Eight Hour Day. In Western Australia, Labour Day is the first Monday in March. In the Northern Territory, it is called May Day and occurs on the first Monday in May.

The first march for an eight-hour day by the labour movement occurred in Melbourne on the 21st of April, 1856.On this day stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
Action taken by stonemasons on 21 April 1856 led to the establishment and maintenance of the Eight Hour Day, The Eight Hour Day became a symbol of the rights of workers to organise to achieve their rights not only as workers, but as citizens in a democratic society.

This holiday is always on Monday, so it is resulting in a three days weekenday.Many people will take advantage of Eight Hour Day holiday to relax with family and friends to spend their leisure time, take part in the sport activities as well as enjoy the traditional barbecue dinner. Some people will go to the coast,beach,mountains or countryside for picnic.
Eight Hour Day is a public holiday in all states and territories in Australia. People could relax them most and keep a balance between work and life.

Good Friday is a religious as well as a national holiday in Australia, it is held on the Friday before the Easter Sunday. On this day, Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion for him was nailed to the cross on Friday, while non-Christians spend the holiday by going a short tourism or participate in holiday activities.

May be you are not understand why the Jesus Christ’s crucifixion day would named “Good Friday”, it stands to reason that this day should be named the “Bad day”,but people named it properly because the Jesus is the God, or the crucifixion of Jesus have saved all the people’s life, so that is a good thing. Australia Good Friday is the start of a four-day weekend and falls during the Easter school holidays. Australia is a country with strong christian tradions, the day was observed as a public holiday. The devout Christians go to the churches, members of different churches mark the day in various ways. Some churches, especially Catholic churches, see Good Friday as a fast day and people only eat three small meals and, often, no meat at all. Some people substitute meat with fish. Many churches hold special services and some may hold long prayer vigils.

The most of the Australians take a short tourism around this time generally within Australia. Others take the opportunity to spend time with their family or friends as Good Friday is the start of a four-day weekend and falls during the Easter school holidays. Traditionally, people eat hot cross buns on Good Friday and a lot of sporting events are held on or start on Good Friday. And under normal circumstances, banks, governments offices, piblic and most private business are closed. Some small and special store may still opened. According to the local policy, stores may not sell any alcoholic drinks. Public transport services are often unavailable or may not run at all.So the railway station and airport may be very busy. And people are busy with shopping for the supermarket may closed whole day long.

Australia Picnic Day rather it should be called Australia Northern Territory because it is a public holiday in NT,it takes place every year on the first Monday of August. It was originally announced as a public holiday to commemorate the freedom right of the Chinese hard labourers who built the railway between Darwin and Larrimah Northern Australia. And then, the Chinese coolie labourers were given the right to stay in Australia as free settlers, the policy also provided adequate funding for ship fare to Hong Kong. But instead, the workers chose to have a picnic beside the Adelaide River.

The Picnic Day was recognised as an extra day of rest as well as a multi-day for a long weekend with various events,such as the Hart-wide annual competition.Most of the people viewed Picnic Day as a part of a long weekendday for they can go on a short trip outside or rest at home. Some people would like to have a picnic at a park or beside the river bank on this day.There are also many sport events held on this day, such as the baseball games, the Harts Range annual races and lizard races.

One this Picnic Day, people will also come to the town of Adelaide River to take part in a traditional railway picnic to commemorate the original Hard workers.People not only will enjoy the traditional railway food and refreshments but also many activities and games are available.On this day, school are closed and regular post services are closed too.There are bus and ferry route variations in Darwin and other towns during the holiday, so travelers may need to check that their timetables are accurate if they have to go out for a trip.

Family Community Day is a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in Australia on the first Monday of the September/October school holidays.

The Date can be changed, if the first Monday of the holiday break is Labour Day, Family Community Day is moved to the second Monday of that period. The holiday was originally annual held on the first Tuesday of November, but was moved to the first Monday of the September/October school break from 2010 onwards.

Family Community Day is a new public holiday in the ACT. In 2007 the ACT’s Minister for Industrial Relations Andrew Barr officially confirmed that the public holiday would begin that year. Mr Barr said that Australians worked the longest hours in the developed world introduced the holiday in response to the previous federal government’s new industrial relations system. The holiday was introduced to compensate people in the ACT for these changes and to encourage more time to be spent with family and friends.The ACT’s Minister for Industrial Relations John Hargreaves announced in August 2009 that the territory’s Family Community Day would move in the future to be held at a different date from 2010 onwards compared to previous years.

Things to do on the Family Community Day
Family and Community Day is a day off work for most people in the ACT. The idea of fostering quality time for workers to spend with their families on this day is strongly encouraged by the territory’s government and the unions, who work together to organize and promote community events on this day. Many people use this time for leisure activities and hobbies.Family and Community Day is a public holiday in the ACT so most public and private sector organizations and schools are closed.

The Western Australia’s Day also called the Foundation Day,the Western Australia’s Day Bill in 2011 record that the purpose of this Bill is for an Act to rename ‘Foundation Day’, observed annually on 1 June, as ‘Western Australia Day’ and to amend the Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972 and the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 and for related purposes. It is a public holiday in Western Australia. The Western Australia is the largest states of Australia. People in Western Australia celebrate this holiday on the first Monday in June each year to commemorate the founding of the Swan River colony in 1829. There is a another public holiday in June, it is the Queen’s Birthday. Because of the celebration of Western Australia’s Day, WA does not celebrate the Queen’s Birthday Holiday in June, as to the other states; it is held in September or October instead.

On June 1, 1829, Western Australia’s coast was first found by the merchant ship Barque Parmelia. This led to the establishment of the Swan River Colony which was the first permanent British colony in Western Australia. Western Australia’s Day is officially celebrated on June 1, but the public holiday is observed on the first Monday in June.

Western Australia Day on the first Monday in June is a public holiday in Western Australia. On this Day, Schools and other educational establishments are closed, so as many businesses group and other organizations. Stores are usually closed, but there are some small and specialty stores may be open, so, if you want go shopping on this day, that will be a disappointment. There are normally some changes to public transport services within Western Australia. You must recognise that some services particular early in the morning may be unavailable, but do not worry too much, there may be extra buses or trains later in that day.

In the other states and territories of Australia, the first Monday in June is not a public holiday. Everything were normal, schools, businesses,stores and other organizations are open as usual.

Recreation Day

Recreation Day is annually celebrated in northern Tasmania, in Australia, ont the first Monday of Novermber. Cities and towns in the region celebrate this holiday. Recreation Day is a public holiday in northern Tasmania, so many people in this area have a day off work. Many schools and businesses are closed in towns and cities such as Launceston. Some libraries, such as the university of Tasmania’s launceston campus library, are open. People who intend on traveling via public transport on the day wil need to check with their local transport authorities as transport schedules may vary from area to area on this day.

Recreation Day does not have a great deal of historic, cultural or religious significance. Prior to 1989 it was simply known as the First Monday of November holiday.The Bank Holidays act 1919 was amended in 1989 to delete all reference to the first Monday of November as a holiday. At that time it was proposed to make the day a holiday under the general powers of proclamation in section eight of that Act.

In 1991 the state government decided that Recreation Day would be observed on November 11. This was to coincide with the final day of the Australian pacing Championship due to be held in Launceston at that time.
The government’s decision was proclaimed in the government gazette on September 18, 1991. Today, Recreation Day continues to be observed in northern Tasmania on the first Monday of November. Other parts of Tasmania do not observe this holiday. Instead they observe the Royal Hobart Regatta, which falls on the second Monday of February.
What do people do?
Many people in northern Tasmania spend Recreation Day to catch up with family and friends and relax. Some people use the day to catch up on home maintenance or household chores. Others may spend time watching movies or enjoying outdoor activities as the weather heads towards the warmer months during the southern hemisphere’s summer.

Many people play or watch sport on this day. Those who observe or take part in sporting events on this day tend to enjoy popular Australian sports, especially cricket and Australian rules football, commonly known as “Aussie rules” or “the footy”. Some libraries are open for university students, who may use the day to study and prepare for any upcoming exams

Proclamation Day is a special festival of Australia. Proclamation Day is the name of official or unofficial holidays or other anniversaries which commemorate or mark an very important proclamation note. In some case , it may be an holiday or the anniversary, the proclamation of a monarch’s accession to the throne. A proclamation day may also celebrate the independence of a country, the end of a war, or the ratification of an important treaty.

Proclamation Day in South Australia

Proclamation Day in South australia celebrates the establishment of  the gonernment in South Australia as a British province. The proclamation agreement was made by Captain John Hindmarsh beside The Old Gum Tree at the present-day suburb of Glenelg North on 28 december in 1836. The proclamation specified the same protection under the law for the local  native population as for the settlers. The date 28 December as a public holiday in south Australia was modified to the first otherwise working day after the Christmas Day public holiday ( usually 26 december). Formal ceremonies involving the most sennior current officials and politicians, followed by public celebrations, continue to be held at the still-extant Old Gum Tree at Glenelg on 28 December.

Western Australia Proclamation Day

Proclamation Day also refers to October 21, 1836. The day that responsible government was proclaimed in Western Australia. It used to be a public holiday in Western Australia, but gradually the celebrations were pre-empted  by those who wished to celebrate the achievement of the eight-hour day. In 1919 it was renamed Labour Day, and shortly afterwards the celebration date changed, with the result that Proclamation Day is no longer a public hoiliday in Western Australia.

Australia New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve in the Australia Gregorian calendar is the last day of the year, is on december 31, while in many countries, New Year’s Eve is celebrated at evening, people gathering together, dancing, singing and keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep which is called vigil, the devout people pray for good luck in the coming year. In Australia, people countdown together and watch fireworks to mark the new year.

The famous outdoor fireworks in Australia are usually held on evenings with great weather. Add to that the spectacular Australian city backdrops for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display and the 31st december is something special. These city events attract large crowds with fabulous party atmosphere and many international travelers come to Australia for that.

New Year’s Eve in Sydney.Sydney is one of the New Year’s Eve wonders of the world. The spectacular sydney Harbour is an amazing ampitheatre with most of the New Year’s Eve fireworks displays starting on Harbour or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are lots of party and event choices in Sydney and cruises are just a natural for this wonderful event. At New Year’s Eve, it’s summertime in sydney, so there’s no better time to celebrate outdoors. Groups of young and old come together in good spirits on a warm evening, surrounded by the city lights twinkling in the water. Strike up a conversation with the people next to you and they’ll be your new friends instantly.

New Year’s Eve Melbourne. Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city.And New Year’s Eve is done so well in this vibrant and alive city. The famous Melbourne fireworks was over the Yarra river. Being summer the parks and gardens look marvelous and with New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Yarra river and the city buildings all the way to the water of Docklands, it’s just made for one big spectacular party. There are plenty of event venues with great views of the fireworks all over town and even cruises in docklands and on the Yarra river. Brisbane’s New Year’s Eve will be celebrated outside with lots of sensational New Year’s Eve fireworks over the southbank and Brisbane river areas. Perth lights up for the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the 31st december and great options for being outdoors or al fresco with events in the city and burbs and down by the Swan river.

In Australia New Year’s Eve, the night kicks off at 9pm with the family fireworks, then as the clock hands strike twelve, the world-renowned midnight fireworks light up the sky, and are broadcast across the globe. In sydney, happy revellers wander back into the city and continue the celebrations in late-night bars and clubs until the New Year dawns.